Time to tackle the Alhambra

I came to the frightening realization today that I am about a month behind on my blog and that if I don't catch up now, I never will. So here I go, trying to tackle all three Alhambra visits in one mostly picture-filled post.

For anyone who doesn't know what the Alhambra is, it is the Islamic palatine city/fortress/palaces that sit(s) on a hill above Granada and has appeared in several of my other posts. As it makes up a good chunk of what we are studying in my Islamic Art and Architecture class, we have made three separate 3 1/2 hour visits to the Alhambra, touring it often with the help of a guide with keys to let us into secret, locked rooms/towers/arab baths.

And now, in a time span of the 23 minutes I have allotted myself to finish the post, I will run through all three of these sometimes painfully long visits.

First visit: The Alcazaba (fortress part)
It's taking me so long to choose pictures that I decided it will be faster to just dump a ton of them on here. Here it goes.

Above: Puerta de Vino, if I am not mistaken. Note the beautiful blue sky reflected in those windows (mark of a true photographer). 

Below: a shot of the Palace of Carlos V and more of the Alhambra (taken from a tower that only we were allowed to climb. One of the pluses of having a guide with special keys).

Rather proud of this picture. Can't say why.

Below: more towers.

And, to finish off this round of pictures, views of Granada from the Alhambra.

As always, I have anticipated completing far more than I could actually manage, and so I'll have to leave you with that and the hope that tomorrow is a more productive day. It's hard to get anything done with little host sisters...